Ghana’s former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, is being remembered a year after her death, with a memorial Mass scheduled to commemorate her life and contribution to women’s empowerment and national development.
The mass happened in the early hours of Friday, October 23, at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka, Accra.
Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings died on October 23, 2025, at the age of 76. She served as First Lady during the administration of her husband, former President Jerry John Rawlings, from 1981 to 2001.
A major part of her public legacy was the establishment of the 31st December Women’s Movement, an organisation that promoted women’s participation in community development, economic activities and public life. The movement also supported the establishment of more than 1,000 early childhood development centres across the country, according to the family’s statement reported by the Ghana News Agency.
Beyond her work as First Lady, Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings remained active in Ghanaian politics. She helped establish the National Democratic Congress before founding the National Democratic Party in 2012. In 2016, she contested the presidential election on the NDP ticket, becoming the first woman to run for the presidency in Ghana’s history, according to the Ghana News Agency.
Her work also extended to international advocacy, including participation in the 1995 United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing, where gender equality and women’s rights featured prominently on the global agenda.
As the country marks one year since her passing, attention is turning to her role in women’s political participation, child welfare and community development, areas that defined much of her public life.
The memorial Mass offers the family, friends and members of the public an opportunity to reflect on her life and the impact of her decades of political and social engagement.
